Mitchell Gets Their Revenge
Third Time's Charm...Memphis Mitchell on their 3rd attempt at the Mustangs finally got a "W" against David Lipscomb in Nashville. These Tigers were not your Older Brother's Tigers...this time they didn't implode but played solid football and won the game in exciting manner in overtime.
In 2002, Lipscomb defeated Mitchell in the 2A Championship by a score of 28-0..and it could have been much worse. Much worse. The Tigers at that time had no idea of how to play in that type of setting and it showed badly on their coaching staff. But their staff learned from that experience. Last year, a much better team hosted the Mustangs in the 3A State semi-final game. Yet they weren't quite there. They were confused and uncertain of what to do in the final minutes of the game. It was apparent that they did not work on a two minute offense and were not mentally prepared as well, another reflection possibly on their coaching staff. Now comes 2008, The Tigers now have to travel a couple of hundred of miles to play Lipscomb once again in the State Semi-final game. This time, The Mitchell Coaches had used past efforts as motivation to get their team ready for the season and the chance of meeting Lipscomb one more time. This year, The Mitchell Coaches had everything put together. The right players playing in the right positions and playing with a game plan and showing discipline. This was the best effort by a Mitchell team than what we had seen in the past. They didn't implode but play solid. Now, we will watch and see what they have left in them. Was their motivation just to meet Lipscomb and beat them and that would make their season? Or was their sites on a State Title and Lipscomb just was a hurdle they had to cross? They lived with the Newspaper Headlines for nearly a year in their locker room--Mitchell Blows It. It remains to be seen and will be determined in Murfreesboro on December 6th.
Mustangs Wrap Up the 2008 Season
Lipscomb started the season where they left off in 2007. The Number 1 team in the State in the AP Poll. A spot they held for 13 straight weeks. What a ride for this bunch of seniors. As Freshman call ups, they dressed for the 2005 State Championship game. As Sophomores they played in the 2006 State Championship game. As juniors, They won the State Championship game. As seniors, the road was a bit tougher as several teams had targeted the Mustangs this season. Stratford had something they wanted to prove. Page knew they were improved and were crossing their fingers. Page had hired Jack Daniels as their coach in 2007, and one of their goals was to beat Lipscomb. Goodpasture, the rival wanted a piece of the 3A Champions, Giles County wanted it so bad in the regular season, Marshall County thought it was their season to claim victory. Then in the playoffs Giles County came back over and knew it was their game for the taking. However, the 2008 Mustangs had more in their tank and was able to hold off these teams. This group of Mustangs wrapped up another successful season posting a 13-1 mark and making it to the State Semi-final game. Their efforts will keep the bar raised for the Lipscomb program playing for Region Titles and State Titles for years to come. This group will be remembered for providing some very memorable games such as the Goodpasture win, and the two huge comeback games with Giles County and yes even the game with Mitchell.
Rd43 Comments
November 28, 2008 Mitchell at Lipscomb
OK – let’s get over this. This is the best team we have produced for the classification it has played under. Since moving up to the varsity team for the Montgomery Central game in 2005 (which a lot of these seniors played in) this team has gone 50 and 5. Two of the losses were to Goodpasture. (One at home in overtime, one at Vanderbilt – first game of the year) Two have been in the State Finals, and one – (this one) in overtime at home against a “Bigger, Faster, Stronger” team. No reason to sit here and cry about it. We had to play off Mitchell’s mistakes – they did not make many, and we didn’t take advantage of them when they were made. Ten of our wins these 3 + years have been shut outs – and there could have been more but we do play our underclassmen. I know we may be mad at ourselves, or mad at the refs, or mad at this or that – it is done. Be proud of what you have accomplished. Keep a good Attitude, you have done the hard Work, you have shown a lot of Hustle, now show a lot of Class, and have Pride in what you have done in building this team’s Tradition. From a 1st and 2nd team McCadams’ player with a senior on this his 27th team -- Well Done!
Internet Coverage
The Line Manager for the Lipscomb Sports Network, Greg Gough reported that their was 275 computer connections from all over the State of Tennessee, several other states and a handful of foreign Countries this past Friday night.
Losses are tough when expectations and goals are lofty. The Team was hoping to play for another State Title this season. They came very close...very close. But as these guys look back in the years to come, they will marvel at what they accomplished. They added fuel to the fire to a number of schools by putting a target on their backs. They never lost a region game..They averaged over 14 games a season. Their efforts continued a fine football tradition at Lipscomb. But losses are always tough in the playoffs. I know that as a fact. Our family has a close bond with some other Lipscomb families which includes having sons during different years of the program. The Lehnings, The Elrods, The Hudsons, The Seamons, The Nowers, The Smiths, The Whitfields, The Jenkins, The Dorris', and there may be others. We got to experience the sting of the playoff loss together and the highest of emotions of playing in the state championship game. For several years it seemed that we just couldn't get by Chattanooga Tyner. It was a miserable feeling to stand outside that visitor locker room and wait on the boys to come out. We had problems matching up with a Tyner. However after the 2001 loss, the staff made some significant changes to our defensive alignments and that next year we spanked Tyner and went on to win the State Championship.
Over the past 4 seasons, Lipscomb has become The "Tyner" to several schools.
Marshall County, Giles County, and Page all hired Coaches to find a way to beat Lipscomb and get further along in the Playoffs. Giles County got the closest-and you know what they say about just getting close. Lipscomb was Mitchell's Tyner. They got by us this time...but they had to do it by improving themselves. Mitchell Teams of old would not have faired as well.
Yes, the guys are hurting, and we're sorry the season has ended. In a few days, the sting won't be hurting as bad and we'll look forward to the football banquet and will be excited once again to be together as one group for a final time.
Overton a Part of the 2009 Schedule
Not to steal any of Coach Mac's Thunder of officially releasing next season' schedule, but you can add another old N.I.L. team to the list. Overton will join our new district mates, Maplewood, Whites Creek, Stratford, Pearl Cohn, East Literature and CPA in the 2009 season. Last year I made a prediction before the new classification system was announce that Lipscomb would be playing a 4A schedule and would compete for a 4A Title. Well kind of sorta did I get it right. When Lipscomb moved to Class 3A, we wondered if we could compete. Well, it turned out that we could and did it pretty well. However, next year the Mustangs venture into a new world of playing some really tough Nashville area programs. The road to the 2009 playoffs got a little tougher. Coach Mac over the next few weeks will release the new schedule.
Mitchell Brings the Band!
The Mitchell Marching Tiger Band put on a very good and entertaining half time show. Its been so long since we've seen that good of a show. The Lipscomb crowd showed their appreciation after the band finished up with Thriller. I still say a good marching band is an important part of Game Day. We still miss it at Lipscomb.
The Football Chronicles
The Historical portion of the website has now been re-organized and hopefully easier to use. We are still working on our Football Team and individual records. If you are aware of any old records or corrections to one that we already have, please let us know.
Next week I hope to add another category to the Football Chronicles..Big Games and Games of Significance. I hope that you will be looking for it and will comment on my selections. The games will be noted from the 1967 season to the present.
Kudos
Lipscomb Radio Network and Web Cast – always first class Craig Hartline, Rob Anderson, Jonathan Seamon, Peter Powell, Bayron Binkley, Shipley Landiss, Blair Binkley, Russ and Russell Sturgeon, Greg Gough
Parking – Mr. Vantrease
Ticket Booth – Debbie Tumblin, Rita Cochrane, Janet McMeen, Patricia Binkley
Grille Meister – Donnie
Hudson, Jimmy Williams, Ernie Lehning, Billie Shepard, Greg Fuson, Joe
Simpson, Travis Taylor
Purple Shoe
11/28/08 Mitchell (21)- Travis Taylor Truman Bean, Scott Johnson, Ernie
Lehning, John Hoelzer, Kerry Risley, Michael Lillicrap, Kevin Helms, Mark
Moscolo, Mike Hubler, Joe Simpson, Randy Rogers, Troy Brewer, Tim Tomberlin,
Jimmy Williams, Jeff Cardwell, Billie Shepard, Billy Small, Ron Reasonover,
Mark Cagle, Kirk Lehmer
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Mustangs work hard off season. Its a new world for Lipscomb Football beginning in 2009 and Page looms for revenge.
See you soon!
The Lipscomb Lizard A peak into the mind of the Lipscomb Lizard.